Article-holding device.



G. GUIVHVIERSON.

ARTICLE HOLDING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED 1AN.2.1917.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

Gummi* `T0 all whom t may concern:

l carriers and others,

N .IVIOUNIAI1\T, MICHIGAN.,

ARTICLE-HOLDING DEVICE.

reserver.

GUMMnnsoN, a States, residing at Iron in the county of Dickinson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Article- Holding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to package-holding devices, and has for its principal object to provide a simple and convenient means for supporting' and gripping packages which may bc left at designated points, `by mail and which are protected from loss by beingblown about by the wind or injured by rain` falling upon said package. l

`A further object of the invention is to provide in such devices means whereby the same may be operated quickly and without trouble by the person delivering the same so that no time will be lost in making his rounds for seeking means to secure the packages in positions at designated points.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thekindsetforth with fixed Be it knownthat l, Gns'r citizen of the United Mountain,

and movable abutments, the latter being re-` siliently operated to serve as a gripping jaw,

in connection with the fixed abutment to hold a package therebetween and provided with an overhanging cover that will protect said package from the weather.

With the above as the principal objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the invention complete,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same with the cover and abutments shown 1n section,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a base-board or plate by means of which the device is secured to a post or fence, upon a house, doorstep or other convenient place 11 which will afford secure protection and support for the device. Fastened to one end of the base 10 and extending in a direction perpendicular thereto beyond one side is an upright abutment or plate 12, the upper end 13 of which is preferably bent over the base 10 for a short distance.

Cooperating with the abutment or plate p Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 2, 1917. Serial No. 140,215..

Patented Sept. d, 1217.

12 is a movable abutment 14C of substantially the same dimensions and in parallel relation with its upper edge 15 curved toward the similarly curved edge 13 of the fixed abutment. At the bottom of the abutment 14C are two guide rods 16 secured to the abutment and extending at right angles thereto through openings 17 in the xed abutment, pins 18 being passed through the ends of the rod 16 to prevent withdrawal from the openings 17. On the outer side of the movable abutment is a handle 19 by which the abutment may be moved toward and from the fixed abutment 12, while to secure easier .movement of this abutment there 1s mounted at the bottom at substantially the central line thereof a roller 20 turning in journals `21 and` bearing in a shallow longitudinal `slot 22 formed in the top of the `spring passes freely through an opening 26 in the fixed abutment and will serve to grip any package placed between the two abutments with suliicient firmness to prevent falling to the ground or being blown out of position by the wind. As a further guide for the movable abutment 11 there is provided a rail 27 secured to the base plate on each side thereof, and lying parallel to each other and to the line of movement of the abutment 14.

These rails also serve as a support for the article or articles between the abutments.

As protection against rain and snow a cover plate 28 extends over the device sufficiently high to enable all packages of average size to be placed thereunder, said cover plate extending from a point near the rear end of the base to which it is connected by uprights 29 and then extends forward beyond the lixed abutment where, twining downwardly at an angle, it is bent around the bracket 25 and again back toward the base in a horizontal direction to which it is fixed in any appropriate manner.

As thus described, the invention is shown to be a simple and convenient device which in use is attached by screws 30 to any fixed support, and when a mail carrier or other person desires to leave a package for a per- Combination with cured in position, 'end of' said base and. pro]ectmg ;perpendicun 'adapted to cooperate with Vsaid abutment and son in the device, he has merely tog-rasp the handle 19 in one hand, draw the abutment 14; backwardly and with the other hand insert the package between the two abutments; then loosening the handle 19, the abutment 14 closes upon the package and `grips the same therebetween and between`- the abutment 12. A device of this kind will ube very useful on rural mail routes where a ypostman often finds di'lficulty in securing a 'package in a fixed position.-

This device may also be secured to houses and made in proper sizes to be placed on a desk for holding files and other papers.

1What I claim isi: i

1. In a device of the kind described, the a base adapted to be se a fixedl abutment at one larly thereto at one side,

2. In a device of the class described, the i combination vwith a base adapted to be se- `(fpies of this patent may 'ne obtained for `for gripping` contained `and a broad cover plate secured -ciii'edin position, an abutment fixed at one end of said base and extending perpendicular thereto,`v from'said 4end of the base, a movable abutment cooperating with said fixed abutment for holding packages therebetween, a spring attached to said movable abutment and to said bracket for normally holding the latter abutment against the fixed l`abutment and articles, guide bars secured to the movable abutment and slidvable through openings in the fixed abutnient, a fixed guideplate rsecured to the -base on each side of the movable abutment and extending from thev lixed abutment to the limit of movement of the movable abutment, a roller mounted on the movable abutment and traveling in a groove in thebaseforsuppor'tin'g the movable abutment above 'said base, means on the latter abutment for 'withdrawing itv from the fixed abutment, A at onfe end to an end of said baseandgextending thence forwardly, upwardly and rearwardly to form a cover for the contained article.

Iii testimony Whereofl affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

v AGrUS'T GUMMERSON.

Witnesses:

S. V. CARPENTER,

JOSEPH A. BAL'DRGA.

ivecentsfeach, by addressing the l Commissioner if `fatela, Iliashington,111.0.

a bracket projecting outwardly 

